Olivia’s 1am Update

I’ve been trying to monitor the whimpering that Olivia has done. There seems to be a correlation between how much vacuum pressure is present in the drainage tubes in her chest and the amount of moaning she does. After a surgery such as this, there are small, flexible tubes stitched into patient’s chest. These tubes are hooked up to a powered hoover-like contraption (or, Dyson-like, for the younger, cooler folk . . . except not as powerful . . . so I guess it’s closer to a dustbuster. Anyways . . .). The machine creates suction that pulls the extra blood and fluid from the open abdominal cavity so infection is less likely, distention is minimized, and the healing process is pushed along. Of course this vacuum creates internal pressure, which is not comfortable. Hence the moaning.

I noticed some duskiness (grayish-blue coloring) creeping back into her face and something that looked like a section of capillaries which had burst at Olivia’s neckline. I talked with the physician and we ran a bunch of lab tests. We found out her hemoglobin and hematocrit (H&H) levels were fine, but on the slightly low side of fine. Not a problem. However, we found that her blood was too thin so we added two helpings of platelets. This will thicken it up a bit and assist with coagulation. We also found a need to increase some electrolytes, so calcium gluconate was given. Her color looks better now and the neckline issue has basically disappeared.

She has some pain meds on board, so she should be able to sleep decently for the next several hours. A few moans here and there, as far as I am concerned, are more than allowable right now. Her breathing treatment is done for the night.

Even in the midst of her pain, Olivia smiled a few times tonight, which is great. And she really loves her juice. She asks for it at every opportunity—and I give it to her.